Plumbeous-crowned Tyrannulet

Overview

The plumbeous-crowned tyrannulet (Phyllomyias plumbeiceps) is a small bird belonging to the family Tyrannidae, the tyrant flycatchers. It is found in the Andean regions of Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru, where it inhabits humid montane forests. The species is assessed as being of Least Concern by the IUCN Red List, although it is considered uncommon or rare in parts of its range.

Identification

• Approximately 11.5 cm long, with males weighing about 11 g and females about 8 g.
• Adults feature a gray crown, bright olive nape, back, and rump, with white lores and supercilium interrupted by a dusky eye stripe.
• Wings are dusky with yellow or yellowish-white edges, and the tail is dusky olive; the throat is grayish white, and the breast and flanks are yellow with an olive wash.
• Sings a series of 5-8 short, hard notes such as 'pik pik pik' at long intervals, louder than expected for its small size.

Habitat

This species has a disjunct distribution along the Andes, found in Colombia's three Andean ranges, the east slope of Ecuador, and the east slope of most of Peru. It inhabits the interior and edges of humid montane forest in subtropical and tropical zones, occurring between 1,200 and 2,300 m in elevation depending on the country.

Diet

The diet is not fully detailed but is known to include insects, with probable consumption of small fruits and berries. The bird forages singly or in pairs, often joining mixed-species feeding flocks, and typically takes prey by briefly hovering in the forest's mid-level to the canopy.

Did you know?

Despite its small size, the plumbeous-crowned tyrannulet sings more loudly than expected, producing a series of sharp, moderate-pitched notes that can end with a lower trill.